Menjaga Integritas dan Etika terhadap Krisis Kepercayaan Profesi Advokat

Abstract

The legal profession holds a strategic position in law enforcement; however, a crisis of public trust can arise from the gap between the profession's ideal standards and actual practices regarding ethics, integrity, professionalism, independence, and legal accountability. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to the decline in public trust in the legal profession and to identify strategies for upholding integrity and ethics amidst these challenges. Employing a qualitative method specifically normative-juridical research utilizing statutory and conceptual approaches the study analyzes secondary data (comprising primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials) gathered through literature reviews and documentation. The findings indicate that the trust crisis is driven by violations of the code of ethics, conflicts of interest, a lack of transparency, low professionalism, compromised independence, and breaches of client confidentiality. The study concludes that integrity and ethics are not merely individual obligations for advocates but serve as strategic instruments for maintaining the profession's legitimacy as an officium nobile (noble profession). Necessary measures include strengthening compliance with the Indonesian Advocates' Code of Ethics and Law Number 18 of 2003, ensuring continuous professional development, implementing transparent disciplinary oversight, safeguarding confidentiality, utilizing technology responsibly, providing professional legal services, and bolstering pro bono legal aid. The study implies that the consistent application of integrity and ethics can enhance advocate credibility, restore public trust, expand access to justice, and support a legal enforcement system characterized by professionalism, independence, and fairness.